On a sizzling Saturday when the temperature hit 40C in Perth, Australia posted 323 in reply to India's 198, with Sutherland making 129 off 171 balls and Perry 76 off 116 in front of 3679 fans.
India went to stumps on day two in all sorts of trouble at 6-105 in their second innings, still needing a further 20 runs to make Australia bat again in Alyssa Healy's international farewell.
Sutherland, who took 4-46 in India's first innings, picked up another two wickets late in the day, while 19-year-old debutant Lucy Hamilton snared 3-32 to leave the visitors fighting to avoid an innings defeat.Â
Although Perry missed out on making her third Test century, her score was enough to take her to 1006 Test runs - surpassing the previous Australian women's record of 1002 held by Karen Rolton.
Ellyse Perry goes over the top to bring up her 50 � #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/lerncwBBse— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 7, 2026
That 16-year-old record was broken when Perry lofted spinner Deepti Sharma down the ground for four to move to 74 late in the opening session.
Perry now sits 10th on the all-time women's Test run-scoring list.
Former England star Jan Brittin, who played 27 Tests until 1998, sits on top with 1935 runs.
But Perry can lay claim to being the only woman to have passed 1000 runs and taken more than 30 wickets.
"I mean, she's an absolute superstar," Sutherland said of Perry.
"It was pretty cool being out there with her when that milestone got brought up, and humble as always.
"She's been one that a lot of us coming through we've looked up to, not just for the way that she's gone about her cricket, but what she's contributed to the broader game, and the team as well."
Perry's knock was eventually ended when she was adjudged lbw on review at the hands of Sharma.Â
Sutherland walked to the crease on Saturday unbeaten on 20, and her love affair with the WACA continued as she whacked India's heat-stricken attack to all parts of the ground.
She'd hit 17 boundaries before her innings came to an end, caught at long-on off Sharma.
The 24-year-old's only other Test visit to the ground came two years ago when she cracked 210 in a comfortable win over South Africa.
Sutherland has now posted three consecutive Test centuries, with her 163 against England at the MCG last year sandwiched between her two big knocks at the WACA.
50 up for Annabel Sutherland, what a player � #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/wGjpkaOYuD— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 7, 2026
Her Test batting average now sits at an elite 89.37 midway through her seventh Test, and she is the fastest women's player to four Test centuries.
Only Brittin, with five tons, has more Test centuries to her name in the women's game.
India's sharp fielding ensured Australia's first-innings lead didn't blow out too much.
Jemimah Rodrigues had taken a sharp catch on Friday night to dismiss retiring captain Healy for 13 and she was at it again on Saturday, taking a ripping catch at short cover to send Beth Mooney on her way for 19.
Smriti Mandhana produced an even better effort at short leg when her cat-like reflexes resulted in a catch to dismiss Tahlia McGrath for 13.
What a Test debut it has been for Lucy Hamilton! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/xDWhozhjHK— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 7, 2026
Australia's collapse of 4-37 at least boosted the chances of Healy having one final chance to bat in her farewell to international cricket.Â
But any hopes of India being able to set Australia a tricky run chase went up in smoke on Saturday night as Hamilton and Sutherland combined for seven wickets.
Pratika Rawal (43no) and Sneh Rana (14no) face a huge task to guide India out of trouble when play resumes on Sunday.Â
